Thread: Joseph Rogers and Sons Razor

I got this last weekend along with it's short bladed cousin. I don't know anything much about it but it's in pretty nice shape. I'm guessing it's from 1800's but really have no idea. I honed it today and plan on shaving later today. Was a little tricky to hone, and I ended up having to put a finger on it to get it to push water the right way. It made more swarf on the 8k stone than I am used to seeing. I guess I will see later if that worked. I will put how the shave went in SOTD. Any thoughts on this one?




Michael

Hey there!!
Is there anything stamped on the other side of the tang? Nice razor!

Carl.

Joseph Rodgers made very good razors. Is it stamped "Sheffield" or "Sheffield, England" as that will give an idea of the time frame. The prior one means made before 1890, and the later is post-1890. Guessing from the hollowness of the grind, I would guess very late 1800s, unless it is a regrind. Should be a fine shaver.

Just stamped Sheffield without England means prior to 1895 at least. Where is the short bladed cousin pic?

The razor in the first post has "England" stamp. And it was made after 1891.

Lovely razor!

Joseph Rodgers & Sons could be said to have one of the highest reputations in Sheffield. The company began with John Rodgers setting up a workshop at Holy Croft in 1724 when he was granted his mark which had been previously owned by another cutler in 1682. His three sons (John, Joseph and Maurice) joined the company, and in addition to the Holy Croft workshop they had workshops in nearby Sycamore Street. John died in 1785 and at that time the company occupied No 6 Norfolk Street - an address that they were to make known around the globe. Originally trading as pen and pocket-knife makers, by 1817 directories listed them as 'merchants, factors, table and pocket knife and razor manufacturers.' Joseph who was blind for the last 40 years of his life died in 1821, left four sons - John, Joseph, Maurice and George. Owing to Joseph's blindness, John directed the firm and was responsible for much of its success. In 1821 John was introduced to the future George IV (then Prince Regent) following which he opened a showroom in Norfolk Street. The first of its kind it caused a sensation - crowds came to marvel at the products, many of them thinking it was an exhibition rather than a salesroom. John Rodgers, also called 'The Queen's Cutler' died in 1859 at the age of 80. The new generation took over the business, aided by three partners: Henry Atkin, John Nelstrop and Robert Newbold. By 1870 they were sending upwards of 10 tons of cutlery annualy to the USA. Offices in Cullum and Fenchurch Street in London were acquired as well as offices in New Orleans, New York, Montreal, Toronto, Calcutta, Bombay and Havana. John Nelstrop left the firm in 1866 and Joseph Rodgers and Robert Newbold turned the company into a limited one in 1871. Joseph retired in 1881 leaving Robert Newbold as sole director. In 1889 a showroom at 60 Holborn Viaduct was added. In 1907 the Sheath Island Works was added to their holdings, bringing the ground they occupied to a total of around 5 acres. In 1890 the firm started making their own shear steel, and in 1894 their own crucible steel. Robert Newbold retired in 1890, leaving Maurice and John Rodgers as joint managing directors. The US McKinley tariff on foreign goods cut the american trade by half and to combat this the firm cut workers wages, provoking a strike that only ended when starvation made them return to work. The firm had become uncaring and the strike resulted in bitter memories for many. WW1, John Rodgers death in 1929 and the depression of the inter-war years all hit the firm hard. Attempts to enter the safety-razor market met with failure, and there was a shareholders revolt in 1937. The end was coming. Cheap Swiss and German imports in the early 1960s forced the issue, the company not being quoted at the stock exchange in 1967. In 1968 it was taken over by Archford Investments. In 1971 the old rival - Wostenholm - was bought by Rogers, but the combination only survived until 1975 before being taken over by Richards, which in turn collapsed.

During its time the firm had many copycats, all trying to trade on their name. There are Joseph Rodgers razors never made by the original company as well as a number of firms who had some legitimate claim to calling themselves by virtually the same name. One such is Joseph Rodgers of Clun Street. Whether this was a separate company or not is not entirely clear, but the razors produced at Clun Street never bore any of the Royal Warrants that the bona-fide razors were so pleased to include on their tangs.

Regards,
Neil

The History of Joseph Rodgers and Sons.

I'll try and post a pic tomorrow.

Thank you guys for all the great info.

Michael

Originally Posted by nipper

Just stamped Sheffield without England means prior to 1895 at least. Where is the short bladed cousin pic?

Joseph Rodgers. Full of history and fine shaves! Nice thread!